Spring 2026: Message from RST Department Head Carla Santos

May 13, 2026 | Carla Santos Our alumni play a vital role in sustaining the strength of our community Hello alumni and friends of the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism, As the spring semester comes to an end, I am pleased to share the latest edition of the Recreation, Sport and Tourism newsletter with […]

Prepared for the unexpected: How Bedford Park and RST built a living laboratory for safety

May 15, 2026 | Vince Lara-Cinisomo A sponsored partnership serves as an experiential learning opportunity for Recreation, Sport and Tourism students On any given weekend, the parking lots around the Wintrust Sports Complex fill with minivans and team buses, their passengers streaming through the doors with duffel bags and folding chairs in tow. Inside, basketballs […]

The intern who turned an ejection into a career lesson

April 10, 2026 | Ethan Simmons One embarrassing moment produced viral fame and lifelong lessons for this Recreation, Sport and Tourism alum. At their best, college internships are valuable learning experiences. Derek Dye didn’t expect his to involve getting tossed out of a baseball game. That was the viral story for this University of Illinois […]

Happy Birthday, Huff!

Dec. 19, 2025 | Anna Flanagan AHS celebrates the 100th anniversary of Huff Hall By Anna Flanagan Many people still think of the home of the College of Applied Health Sciences as Huff Gym. The building opened in 1925 as the New Gymnasium, giving the University of Illinois men’s basketball team what was then state-of-the-art […]

Message from the department head

Oct. 27, 2025 | Carla Santos Dear RST Friends and Alumni, As the fall semester unfolds, I am delighted to share the newest edition of our Recreation, Sport and Tourism newsletter. This issue reflects the breadth of scholarship, creativity and connection that define our department. Among the stories you’ll read are the work of Charis […]

2025 RST department head message

May 21, 2025 Hello RST Friends and Alumni, Welcome to the spring 2025 edition of the RST newsletter! We are excited to share some of the latest research breakthroughs from our faculty, outstanding student achievements and the ongoing contributions of our incredible alumni. This year, we are especially proud to showcase how our students and […]

Message from the RST Department Head

Oct. 22, 2024 | Carla Santos Greetings, Friends and Alumni of the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism, Welcome to the fall 2024 edition of the RST newsletter. I am pleased to share highlights of the latest research from our faculty, remarkable student achievements, and the continued involvement of our distinguished alumni. We are proud […]

Message from Department Head Carla Santos

Oct. 22, 2022 | Carla Santos Dear Alumni and Friends, Welcome to the fall issue of RST E-News! We have had a whirlwind start to academic year 2022-23, enrolling 296 student majors and adding four new professors to our tenure-track and specialized faculties. In this issue, we’ll introduce you to Assistant Professor Nicholas Pitas, Associate […]

RST student startup built to help venues stay booked

Jan. 10, 2024 | Ethan Simmons An RST alumnus developed a digital platform to help venues maximize their booking potential. Atop the usual final exams and projects, University of Illinois senior Sean Chang has been charting a different path for his final year in the Recreation, Sport and Tourism program—by building his own business. With […]

College of Applied Health Sciences
110 Huff Hall
1206 South 4th Street
Champaign, IL 61820
(217) 333-2131